Or, repented that they had destroyed their brethren, as appeareth verse 15.
Historical and theological verse study from Book of Judges, Chapter 21.
Apply the spiritual lesson of Judges 21:6 through prayerful reflection and faithful obedience.
“Gracious Father, write the truth of Judges 21:6 upon my heart by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“Ductique pœnitentia filii Israël super fratre suo Benjamin, cœperunt dicere : Ablata est tribus una de Israël :”
“And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.”
“And the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites, and said, “Today a tribe is cut off from Israel.”
“The children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “There is one tribe cut off from Israel today.”
“And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.”
Or, repented that they had destroyed their brethren, as appeareth verse 15.
Say. Governors should use great discretion, and correct with justice and mercy. (St. Gregory 1. ep. 24.) (Worthington)
1. The tide of their anger at Benjamin's crime did not run so high and so strong before but the tide of their grief for Benjamin's destruction ran as high and as strong after: They repented for Benjamin their brother, v. 6, 15. They did not repent of their zeal against the sin; there is a holy indignation against sin, the fruit of godly sorrow, which is to salvation, not to be repented of, 2 Cor 7 10, 11. But they repented of the sad consequences of what they had done, that they had carried the matter further than was either just or necessary. It would have been enough to destroy all they found in arms; they needed not to have cut off the husbandmen and shepherds, the women and children. Note, (1.) There may be over-doing in well-doing. Great care must be taken in the government of our zeal, lest that which seemed supernatural in its causes prove unnatural in its effects. That is no good divinity which swallows up humanity. Many a war is ill ended which was well begun. (2.) Even necessary justice is to be done with compassion. God does not punish with delight, nor should men. (3.) Strong passions make work for repentance. What we say and do in a heat our calmer thoughts commonly wish undone again. (4.) In a civil war (according to the usage of the Romans) no victories ought to be celebrated with triumphs, because, which soever side gets, the community loses, as here there is a tribe cut off from Israel. What the better is the body for one member's crushing another? Now,